Star-of-the-earth definition

Star-of-the-earth





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1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Star \Star\ (st[aum]r), n. [OE. sterre, AS. steorra; akin to
     OFries. stera, OS. sterro, D. ster, OHG. sterno, sterro, G.
     stern, Icel. stjarna, Sw. stjerna, Dan. stierne, Goth.
     sta['i]rn[=o], Armor. & Corn. steren, L. stella, Gr. 'asth`r,
     'a`stron, Skr. star; perhaps from a root meaning, to scatter,
     Skr. st[.r], L. sternere (cf. {Stratum}), and originally


     applied to the stars as being strewn over the sky, or as
     being scatterers or spreaders of light. [root]296. Cf.
     {Aster}, {Asteroid}, {Constellation}, {Disaster}, {Stellar}.]
     1. One of the innumerable luminous bodies seen in the
        heavens; any heavenly body other than the sun, moon,
        comets, and nebulae.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              His eyen twinkled in his head aright,
              As do the stars in the frosty night.  --Chaucer.
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     Note: The stars are distinguished as {planets}, and {fixed
           stars}. See {Planet}, {Fixed stars} under {Fixed}, and
           {Magnitude of a star} under {Magnitude}.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. The polestar; the north star. --Shak.
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     3. (Astrol.) A planet supposed to influence one's destiny;
        (usually pl.) a configuration of the planets, supposed to
        influence fortune.
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              O malignant and ill-brooding stars.   --Shak.
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              Blesses his stars, and thinks it luxury. --Addison.
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     4. That which resembles the figure of a star, as an ornament
        worn on the breast to indicate rank or honor.
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              On whom . . .
              Lavish Honor showered all her stars.  --Tennyson.
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     5. Specifically, a radiated mark in writing or printing; an
        asterisk [thus, *]; -- used as a reference to a note, or
        to fill a blank where something is omitted, etc.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     6. (Pyrotechny) A composition of combustible matter used in
        the heading of rockets, in mines, etc., which, exploding
        in the air, presents a starlike appearance.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     7. A person of brilliant and attractive qualities, especially
        on public occasions, as a distinguished orator, a leading
        theatrical performer, etc.
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     Note: Star is used in the formation of compound words
           generally of obvious signification; as, star-aspiring,
           star-bespangled, star-bestudded, star-blasting,
           star-bright, star-crowned, star-directed, star-eyed,
           star-headed, star-paved, star-roofed, star-sprinkled,
           star-wreathed.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     {Blazing star}, {Double star}, {Multiple star}, {Shooting
     star}, etc. See under {Blazing}, {Double}, etc.
  
     {Nebulous star} (Astron.), a small well-defined circular
        nebula, having a bright nucleus at its center like a star.
        
  
     {Star anise} (Bot.), any plant of the genus Illicium; -- so
        called from its star-shaped capsules.
  
     {Star apple} (Bot.), a tropical American tree ({Chrysophyllum
        Cainito}), having a milky juice and oblong leaves with a
        silky-golden pubescence beneath. It bears an applelike
        fruit, the carpels of which present a starlike figure when
        cut across. The name is extended to the whole genus of
        about sixty species, and the natural order ({Sapotaceae})
        to which it belongs is called the Star-apple family.
  
     {Star conner}, one who cons, or studies, the stars; an
        astronomer or an astrologer. --Gascoigne.
  
     {Star coral} (Zool.), any one of numerous species of stony
        corals belonging to {Astraea}, {Orbicella}, and allied
        genera, in which the calicles are round or polygonal and
        contain conspicuous radiating septa.
  
     {Star cucumber}. (Bot.) See under {Cucumber}.
  
     {Star flower}. (Bot.)
        (a) A plant of the genus {Ornithogalum};
            star-of-Bethlehem.
        (b) See {Starwort}
        (b) .
        (c) An American plant of the genus {Trientalis}
            ({Trientalis Americana}). --Gray.
  
     {Star fort} (Fort.), a fort surrounded on the exterior with
        projecting angles; -- whence the name.
  
     {Star gauge} (Ordnance), a long rod, with adjustable points
        projecting radially at its end, for measuring the size of
        different parts of the bore of a gun.
  
     {Star grass}. (Bot.)
        (a) A small grasslike plant ({Hypoxis erecta}) having
            star-shaped yellow flowers.
        (b) The colicroot. See {Colicroot}.
  
     {Star hyacinth} (Bot.), a bulbous plant of the genus {Scilla}
        ({Scilla autumnalis}); -- called also {star-headed
        hyacinth}.
  
     {Star jelly} (Bot.), any one of several gelatinous plants
        ({Nostoc commune}, {Nostoc edule}, etc.). See {Nostoc}.
  
     {Star lizard}. (Zool.) Same as {Stellion}.
  
     {Star-of-Bethlehem} (Bot.), a bulbous liliaceous plant
        ({Ornithogalum umbellatum}) having a small white starlike
        flower.
  
     {Star-of-the-earth} (Bot.), a plant of the genus {Plantago}
        ({Plantago coronopus}), growing upon the seashore.
  
     {Star polygon} (Geom.), a polygon whose sides cut each other
        so as to form a star-shaped figure.
  
     {Stars and Stripes}, a popular name for the flag of the
        United States, which consists of thirteen horizontal
        stripes, alternately red and white, and a union having, in
        a blue field, white stars to represent the several States,
        one for each.
  
              With the old flag, the true American flag, the
              Eagle, and the Stars and Stripes, waving over the
              chamber in which we sit.              --D. Webster.
  
     {Star showers}. See {Shooting star}, under {Shooting}.
  
     {Star thistle} (Bot.), an annual composite plant ({Centaurea
        solstitialis}) having the involucre armed with stout
        radiating spines.
  
     {Star wheel} (Mach.), a star-shaped disk, used as a kind of
        ratchet wheel, in repeating watches and the feed motions
        of some machines.
  
     {Star worm} (Zool.), a gephyrean.
  
     {Temporary star} (Astron.), a star which appears suddenly,
        shines for a period, and then nearly or quite disappears.
        These stars were supposed by some astronomers to be
        variable stars of long and undetermined periods. More
        recently, variations star in start intensity are
        classified more specifically, and this term is now
        obsolescent. See also {nova}. [Obsolescent]
  
     {Variable star} (Astron.), a star whose brilliancy varies
        periodically, generally with regularity, but sometimes
        irregularly; -- called {periodical star} when its changes
        occur at fixed periods.
  
     {Water star grass} (Bot.), an aquatic plant ({Schollera
        graminea}) with small yellow starlike blossoms.
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